Clear cell carcinoma of lung: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Objective To analyze the clinical,imaging and pathological features of primary lung clear cell carcinoma.Methods A case of primary lung clear cell carcinoma confirmed by video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy was reported and the literatures were reviewed.Results A 45 year-old female was referred to our department with complaints of two months of cough.Chest computed tomography revealed multiple nodular shadows in bilateral lung fields with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectasis.Video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of primary lung clear cell carcinoma.27 cases of primary lung clear cell carcinoma reported in the past 20 years were collected by literature review.Two-thirds of the patients were male,with an average age of (55 ± 11) years old.Patients complained most commonly of cough (16/27),chest pain (12/27) and haemoptysis (10/27).Radiologically,most cases presented as a peripheral lung nodule or mass with irregular margins (22/27).The maximum diameter of pulmonary lesions ranged from 0.5 to 11 cm.Clear cell carcinoma of the lung is a histological variant of large cell carcinoma,which is a rather rare histological type.Open lung biopsy was often needed for diagnosis,and immunostaining was helpful for differentiation.Conclusions Clear cell carcinoma of the lung has no specific clinical presentation.It often presents as a peripheral lung nodule or mass radiologically.The histological type is rare.Open lung biopsy is often needed for diagnosis,and immunostaining is helpful for differentiation. Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer; Large cell carcinoma; Clear cell carcinoma